A Capella

About a month ago, my friend started singing Amazing Grace, and then I joined him with harmony. It sounded really cool so whenever we're bored we just start that up again. For some reason, singing a capella is very rewarding. It's the only time when you can hear the pure voice- the voice is by itself without piano or guitar or anything else shadowing it. It is very powerful when there are many people singing a capella together- well only if they sing well together. If the group isn't very good, the effect is lost completely, which is why it's sometimes safer to have background music that aids the singers. I'd rather hear nothing at all than hear a bad a capella group. When I hear a bad a capella group I just sit back and laugh. I know they're trying really hard, but when you sing a capella you have to understand your skill. Those groups that aren't very good should pick out easier music and leave the more difficult songs to more experienced groups. However, when my groups' a capella pieces fail I don't laugh at all. I am just embarrased and wish for a second shot.

In school, I am currently in three musical groups that sing a capella pieces (but not exclusive to a capella pieces). The first is called Concert Choir, which is a just a mixed choir. Last year we sang an Eric Whitacre piece called "A Boy and a Girl." It's about an archeological find: a man's and a woman's bones were found embracing each other. The song is essentially about their love. It's a beautiful song, and I will remember that song as one of the best my choir has ever sung.

Although the group doesn't traditionally do a capella pieces, this year Happiness Inc., the show choir, performed two minutes of a capella with the song "Fix You." I was proud of the group for taking on the song, and I thought we did our best. I only we wish we could've performed the song with a better amount of air (we sang it right after two very physically demanding songs choreographically). If we had been just a little more fit to sing the song then it would've been an undeniable success.

Finally, I am a part of Moonlight Express, the jazz group at Kennedy. Traditionally, the group has only sang a capella pieces, but this year we got a back-up band that plays in three out the four songs. Our a capella piece this year is entitled "Embraceable You." The arrangement of the song iss very beautiful. The song is delicate and I think that the group displays that very well. I love singing that song, but I only wish I could listen to us sing it from the audience (of course I can't because then I wouldn't be singing it). I love singing a capella, and it's very fulfilling to me. I just hope that I will be able to do it for the rest of my life.